Car Rental - Missouri

Missouri is a state meant for driving - split horizontally by I-70 and almost vertically by I-44, it's filled with expansive plains, rolling hills and several pretty amazing cities. Many people who aren't from the Midwest haven't been to this beautiful state, but it's far more eclectic and interesting than it gets credit for. The westernmost border is Kansas City, Missouri (not to be confused with Kansas City, Kansas), while the easternmost point is St. Louis.

One of the most beautiful regions in the state, the Ozarks are a gorgeous, green sprawl of rolling hills and mountains. In the middle of the action is the Lake of the Ozarks, where flocks of Missourians travel during the summer months to water ski, wake board, tube and lounge around on the patio. There are plenty of other prime Missouri destinations to check out, from Hannibal (the home of Mark Twain) to Joplin and Jefferson City. It's a state with an eclectic mix of big cities and down-home farmland - and lots and lots of highways, of course.

Columbia is a unique college town in the sense that the entire state holds it in high esteem, whether its inhabitants are Tiger fans or not. It's smaller than Kansas City and St. Louis, of course, but it's still home to a vibrant downtown with award-winning restaurants and one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. The University of Missouri (better known as Mizzou) columns are the second most photographed landmark in the entire state - and they're certainly worth seeing.